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sotogalmo · 1 month

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10:21 — 11:10

Barisol's Child Is An Only Child; English cover, connections with Yumi and Yume

"Barisol’s son is an only child

An heir to a wealthy household, and a beautiful boy everyone envies

But there was a problem with him

He loves to play with dolls, and he only wears girl clothes

He steals implements from his mother’s room and secretly puts on makeup

Everyone around him kept their distance from him as such

So he was always

All alone.

Barisol’s daughter is an only child

A once-in-a-millennium child prodigy

Entering college at age six, she studies about the heart of man

Unending crimes and wars; why do people hate each other so?

So that she could understand that even a little, she continued with her research

And so she realized the cause of the unending ‘Malice’

She knew, ‘That’s not in this world’.

Barisol’s son is an only child

He too finally took up a sweetheart, a maid his age who came to work for him

She was adorable like a doll; “I’d like you to let me wear your clothes,”

One day he requested of her

While becoming terribly flustered

“That’s disgusting” was her only reply.

Barisol’s daughter is an only child

She too was beginning to be violated by ‘Malice’

Having unending murder impulses without knowing why, she consulted with a colleague

A researcher of parallel worlds

The man made this reply to her:

“If you can erase your ‘other self’, then perhaps your ‘malice’ can be erased as well”.

From outside the door was an angry voice

In a corner of the room, he was growing afraid

The dolls scattered inside the room, their limbs were warm and in pieces

There was another world in the mirror that his eyes had been able to see

A woman who resembled himself extended a hand.

When the world was consumed by “Malice”, an ark flew into the cosmos

With a crew of 72 people, inside of that it’s said there were also twins.

Just before she would kill ‘herself’, she realized the truth

That this was a clever trap that man had devised

When I do this myself, that really would be the gateway to ‘Malice’

With me fallen, he likely intended to ride on the ark in my place.

Barisol’s child is an only child

But nowadays they're two children

The older sister knowing the heart of man and the younger brother knowing the body of man

The ark advances along a black sea, aiming for a new paradise

Their research might create a new mankind someday."

Those are the lyrics, and the shortened story of Behemo and Levia from Evillious Chronicles! Now I'll explain, on why I think this song is so fitting for Yume and Yumi :D

"Barisol’s son is an only child, An heir to a wealthy household, and a beautiful boy everyone envies."; Yume! I think it's plain and simple to understand how it connects to Yume.

"But there was a problem with him. He loves to play with dolls, and he only wears girl clothes. He steals implements from his mother’s room and secretly puts on makeup."; dunno if it is fitting because he was made intersex for a reason (aliens wanting to know how it is), and so. Eh I really dunno how to explain this part. But I think it's fitting to see his tail as the 'problem'.

"Everyone around him kept their distance from him as such. So he was always All alone."; His uncannyness, his dreamy vibe and everything about him reminding others of other people that they care for. Reminding Innamorati of his big sister- Eve. And I can see others wanting to keep their distance away from him because of such power he holds over them physiologically and emotionally

"Baripsol’s daughter is an only child. A once-in-a-millennium child prodigy."; Yumi! Yumi and her talent of masking!

"Entering college at age six, she studies about the heart of man- Unending crimes and wars; why do people hate each other so?"; Knowing and asking questions leads to wanting to not live in the world where you learned all of this from, etc etc.

"So that she could understand that even a little, she continued with her research, And so she realized the cause of the unending ‘Malice’ — She knew, ‘That’s not in this world’."; 'not in this world'/'not of this world', because her Malice lies in Yume. He expresses it more then Yumi does I think

"Barisol’s son is an only child, He too finally took up a sweetheart, a maid his age who came to work for him."; 'sweetheart' being Ald! His best friend and the one that makes him feel.

"She was adorable like a doll; “I’d like you to let me wear your clothes,” One day he requested of her, While becoming terribly flustered. “That’s disgusting” was her only reply."; this is a nightmare for Yume. To be denied the love that Ald had given him so effortlessly. To be seen as disgusting and weird and a Thing. 'this wasn't how it was supposed to go', Ald would probably say since he's power-hungry. 'you weren't supposed to fall in love with me', because Yume is just a dream to Ald. Why-?

"Barisol’s daughter is an only child, She too was beginning to be violated by ‘Malice’."; I think it's self-explanatory

"Having unending murder impulses without knowing why, she consulted with a colleague, A researcher of parallel worlds."; wanting to kill, but it is with a reason and she knows why. But it's moreso towards herself. It's easy to think of it like so.

"The man made this reply to her:."; Hm? What did he say?

"“If you can erase your ‘other self’, then perhaps your ‘malice’ can be erased as well”."; That idea of Yumi not liking Yume, because of how eerily similar they are.

"From outside the door was an angry voice, In a corner of the room, he was growing afraid."; Its all a dream, but you know how dreams can get.

"The dolls scattered inside the room, their limbs were warm and in pieces."; Ald, Von having a doll theming around them. Ald likes dolls- if you connect the dots it's easy to understand— but this all happened in a nightmare for Yume. He's not that brave enough to admit he's in love with an alien.

"There was another world in the mirror that his eyes had been able to see. A woman who resembled himself extended a hand."; They don't look alike, but they are alike in many ways that honestly? Looks MIGHT be one. But maybe looks can just connect with their names being so similar.

"When the world was consumed by “Malice”, an ark flew into the cosmos. With a crew of 72 people, inside of that it’s said there were also twins."; 'Twins' via name, what they do for a living and their lifestyle!

"Just before she would kill ‘herself’, she realized the truth; That this was a clever trap that man had devised."; Indunno how it works for Yumi and Yume, but I find this very fitting for them

"When I do this myself, that really would be the gateway to ‘Malice’. With me fallen, he likely intended to ride on the ark in my place."; Hell on earth, to stay in Hell. Is to make yourself a demon.

"Barisol’s child is an only child, But nowadays they're two children."; Yume and Yumi! Pretty self-explanatory

"The older sister knowing the heart of man and the younger brother knowing the body of man."; Yumi knowing so because, of the people in her life (mainly Asahi!). Yume knowing the body because that's his main theme

"The ark advances along a black sea, aiming for a new paradise; Their research might create a new mankind someday."; Who knows if that will be true for both Yume and Yumi..

Yume & Ald: @sotogalmo / Yumi: @rockwgooglyeyes / Innamorati & Eve (mention): @alien-til-i-stage

Honestly there really aren't many connections, I just thought that the song would be nice for both of them.

They are just,, Barisol's Child Is An Only Child in spirit.

#time diary(?)#audrey/kellie's time diary #alnst oc: yumi #alien stage ocs #alien stage oc #alnst oc: yume #alnst oc #alnst ocs #letting the brain talk (analysing edition)#alien stage season 40 #alnst season 40 #Spotify #yual/alme #alnst oc (alien): ald

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voidutopian · 6 months

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Major Nations of 3248

For as long as we have breached the confines of Sol, we have taken our myths of humanity united and everlasting to the stars. The First Interstellar War, nearly a millennium ago, put an end to that illusion. Now, in the wake of the worst cataclysm to ever be wrought on the cosmos, we grow no closer to that dream. Individual worlds finding their footing become the proxies for conflicts between interstellar powers, and even those powers are not as monolithic as one first assumes. What follows is an overview of each of them.

Aquila Pact

"Some on this council will claim that it was the Plutonian SSR that kept the revolution alive up until the creation of the Pact, but what worth does that revolution hold if that same world, and its earthbound predecessor, twice was willing to make a deal with those who would see us all eradicated?"

Inhabiting what were once the core worlds of humanity, the Aquila Pact is a loose coalition of worlds seeking to defend each other against external capitalistic influences. At least, that's the most that can be agreed upon. More than any other nation, the Pact is an eclectic group, ranging from Soviet remnants to hive-mind anarchists to anything in between. Disagreements on the direction of the Pact are frequent, and its often joked about that member worlds clash with each other more than they do with the other powers. The presence of external threats ensures they'll continue to work together, but even the smallest change in the current situation could set off the powder keg. They also hold control of the Sol System, save for Earth itself, which is administered by a completely independent organisation.

Broken Shield Union

"Of course we plan to restore the true democratic process as soon as possible! We just have to make sure that our fledgling nation is able to remain free of subversives who would tear down all we built!"

The newest of the interstellar nations, the Broken Shield Union inhabits the region of the same name and is centred around the world of Sanko. Much of the nation is still rebuilding from the aftermath of their civil war with the Commonwealth, and civilian authority has yet to be put in place. Nevertheless, they claim to be ready to stand firm against their neighbours in the Aquila Pact and forge their own identity as a free people. It also holds a considerable population of retroculturalists seeking to return the Spur to the lifestyle seen before the Collapse. It is this group in particular that desires the reclamation of the nearby Tau Ceti system, the most prosperous system of the long-gone Era Kosmopol.

Coreward Commonwealth

"Esteemed colleague, relinquish your blade or I will have you and your entire delegation sent back to Immergrun without hesitation. There, that wasn't too hard, was it? Keep up that cooperation, and there will be an Okorie-Novak computer in every household on that little planet of yours by 3160."

The Coreward Commonwealth is perhaps the wealthiest nation of the new era and, until the civil war, the largest. Its status as possessing some of the most well-established warp-lanes meant the Commonwealth was able to achieve a level of connection unseen over such a large area, rivalled only by the sheer diversity of worlds that make it up. No one world lords over all the others, for this is a nation of equals. Here, the masses attempt to make ends meet day by day as the wealthy play their own clandestine games, from the rugged deserts of Crosk to the towering cityscapes of windswept Stribog. All the excesses of humanity can be found here in all their glory, and some of the most cutting-edge technology of the new era as well, alongside piles of cheap imitators. The daring or the lucky can make it big here. You are not either of those.

Duchies of Moroz

"Goddess be saved"

The old Empire is gone, burned to ashes in the wake of the Tyrants' War. Over the course of the centuries since the Collapse, the Great Houses of the Empire have gone through many wars and religious revivals, distorting the faith of old into the Post-Tribunalism of the modern day. It is this faith's emphasis on biomodification as a means of salvation that has given them a society unlike many others, one quite off-putting to outsiders. Since recontact, they opt to show themselves as a unified entity, but few are fooled by this ruse as the Houses continue to point their guns at each other. Though the question of succession has been in dispute since the Collapse, rumours spread that one of the Houses has found themselves a truly worthy heir to the throne, just in time for the restoration of the homeworld.

Zaurghesian League

"In times past, our species' disunity has led to ruination again and again, and the descendants are forced to live in a more imperfect cosmos each time. Only when we are united can humanity survive this brave new universe."

It is often debated which worlds were able to recover the easiest, but none can deny the Zaurghesian League had an advantage when it came to interstellar travel. Originally a union of a few planetbound nations, the League sits at the nexus of a vast wormhole network, one they have used to its fullest extent. As they expanded outwards, they have made contact with other survivors. Those who are weaker by comparison are folded into the League and gradually fall in line with its culture. Some of these worlds, not particularly enthusiastic about being colonised by an outside power, are much more stubborn. The current flashpoint for these troubles is the frigid world of Arkhadra, where the original inhabitants are reeling from a violent invasion of their home and live under a government brutally trying to assert itself. Arkhadrans continue to plead for the rest of humanity to pay attention to their struggle, or they may become just like the other subjects of the ever-growing League.

#science fiction #worldbuilding #writeblr #writing #queer scifi #queer science fiction #scifi #scifi writing #science fantasy #post apocalyptic

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loemius · 2 years

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i hope it’s alright to ask you this, but i have no idea who to ask. my english teacher is making us do a project, where we have to pick a hellenic god to ‘replace’ zeus + dress up as them. i am very very new to hellenism, so i am not very knowledgeable. is there a way to do this in a respectful manner? i don’t think i can opt out of this since it is a school project for a core class. i apologize if this is a very random ask

khaire anon! thank you for this ask! i'd love to try to help, although i will state outright that i am by no means an expert on hellenism and this is my opinion to the best of my knowledge at the moment. i don't really think there's a way to do this respectfully. the idea of replacing Zeus as king is so heretical to Hellenist beliefs. Zeus is the rightful king by conquest. if you're not familiar with the story, here are the bare bones, according to Hesiod's Theogony: Kronus, the titan, takes over as the ruler of the cosmos after castrating his father, Ouranos. he marries his sister, Rhea, and they have some kids: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Haides, Poseidon, and finally, Zeus. Kronus was prophesied by his parents, Gaia and Ouranos, that one of his children would overthrow him just as he did to Ouranos, so he swallows them all one by one. rhea, pregnant with Zeus, is very upset about this, so she goes to her parents who tell her to give birth in secret, give the baby to Gaia to raise, and then give Kronus a stone to swallow. she does this, Kronus swallows the stone, and Zeus is raised apart from his family in Krete. other sources vary on this, as they always do with Hellenism because it is such a vast religion. anyway, Zeus grows up and forces his father to vomit back out his siblings and the stone he swallowed. Zeus sets up the stone at Delphi (this stone is called omphalos) and then frees the cyclopes and starts a war with the Titans. this goes on for about 10 years until Zeus gets some advice from Gaia to free the hecatoncheires (hundred-handers in English) and they help him in the war. by hurling thunderbolts alongside the hecatoncheires, Zeus ends the war with the titans and establishes himself as the rightful king of the cosmos. his rule is then challenged, but sources on this vary. Apollodorus says that there was a war between the gods and the giants next, but Hesiod says Zeus was challenged by the monster Typhon. really, the story you find to be true is up to you and your worship, but it's a commonality that Zeus's rule is challenged after being established and he still comes out on top. there is a possibility that your teacher is taking issue with Zeus's long history of conquest of women, which is understandable but i find to lack cultural context. it's not that Zeus is some womanizer or rapist -- he reflects the dominant attitude about men and marriage at the time, which was that men could go out and have a few different partners and kids but the women had to stay at home and watch over the household and be very faithful. this is part of why Hera's mythology is the way it is; she is his other half in this regard. nevertheless, to insinuate that one of the other gods should replace Zeus is so blasphemous to Hellenistic belief. certainly not everyone is super tight with Zeus; i’m not, i’m much closer to Apollon, but i respect and honor and praise Zeus as the king of the gods, as does... literally just about everyone. it’s an established thing that he is the king, he earned that right by conquest, and there’s a ton of good things that the Greeks had to say about Zeus. he’s the king of xenia (hospitality) and presides over civil justice and democracy along with his daughter Athena. Zeus and his son Apollon are both identified with the agathos daimon (good spirit) who invokes good luck, health, and protection onto the household. Zeus is often seen as a father figure or a protector. trying to insinuate that he should not be the king completely ignores the actual worship of Zeus and what he’s known for, as well as the cultural context surrounding him and his escapades. now i’m petty so if i were you i’d just write a paper on why Zeus is the rightful king and show up as him anyway, but that’s just me. nevertheless, i wish you well on your academic adventures and hope my answer helped. may the Theoi bless you!

#my asks #my posts #helpol #zeus deity #zeus

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transingthoseformers · 1 year

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The funniest possible post-war meetup of Decepticon High Command in an AU that assumes everybody lives and didn't interact much is IDW.

Like Soundwave arranged it on his completely undestroyed Sanctuary Moon Commune. He is nervous about meeting Megatron again though his cat husband who finally returned from war keeps assuring him that Megatron will be fine about it. Because you know Soundwave basically said fuck off and took the Decepticons and remade their movement.

Now they are finally going to meet after two centuries of not speaking and Soundwave has his Autobot, former Autobot given how factions have mixed especially on Sanctuary Moon, boyfriend Cosmos who he wants to introduce to his ex friend/lover/boss/its complicated status.

And Megatron, Autobot Megatron, arrives after having spent centuries in another world and on the Cybertronian Loveboat as as rescue vessel working to help heal the galaxy and find himself and is just so proud of his friend and the work he's done. Then to kick it off he introduces his two Junxies.

Rodimus AND Minimus Ambus.

Right as these two are reeling from their shared realizations a diplomatic vessel belonging to President Windblade, her second and final term, lands and out saunters Starscream who is the very proud First Conjunx and they kind of expected that though both are surprised that it is a love match.

And even more surprised that Starscream is also accompanied by Bumblebee and Wheeljack who are apparently both in this love polycule and Chromia is chilling on the side as Windblade's other partner. Starscream’s relationships are very rich and varied it turns out and the giant house wasn't just a status thing. They need at least two labs, a sparring arena, and a large enterntaining suite because Windblade and Bumblee both like to entertain, Wheeljack's experiments get everywhere, and over half the polycule is into swordfighting for business and pleasure.

Which alright they can deal with that.

And then the last ship arrives, a kind of rickety one that Soundwave didn’t actually expect to show up but nope out pops Shockwave and trailing after him is his Orion Pax.

At this point Soundwave realizes he is not going to be the problem here.

oh yes this is just. Such a situation

Soundwave 100% is not gonna be the issue here

Starscream Mc Dick Magnet over here with one hell of a chaotic household, dear Primus that setup is so fun.

At this point we need to check the Lost Light out for like. Romantic pheromones or some shit.

And also Shocky coming around the rear with a surprise Orion, whaaat Shockwave plz explain

#maccadam #transformers #au #whole lotta guys #transformers idw

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maximumwobblerbanditdonut · 7 months

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Shōgun!

Shōgun: The much-anticipated Japan-set show has finally landed.—Cosmo Jarvis as the English ship pilot John Blackthorne, whose vessel was wrecked upon the Japanese coast in the early 17th century. After losing his ship to a violent storm, the English navigator finds himself in an endless web of complex politics and power play in Japan and is forced to deal with the two most powerful men in Japan these days. He is thrown amid a war between Toranaga and Ishido, who struggle for the title of Shōgun which will give ultimate power to the one who possesses it.

The term shōgun, which means “general who quells barbarians,” is an ancient military term that was adopted in the twelfth century for the dominant warlord who held political and martial power in Japan while the emperor in Kyoto maintained his position as figural head of state and cultural leader.

Shōgun (1980)

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The original Shōgun, a five-part miniseries based on James Clavell’s best-selling 1975 doorstop, was a massive hit when it aired on ABC in 1980. Nearly a third of American households tuned in to watch a cast led by Richard Chamberlain and the iconic Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune retell the tale of an English navigator’s adventures in feudal Japan. The series won three Emmys and three Golden Globes. The series and book triggered a wave of interest in feudal Japan.

Shōgun: The First Novel of the Asian saga. Set in the year 1600, it tells the story of a bold English pilot whose ship was blown ashore in Japan, where he encountered two people who were to change his life: a warlord with his own quest for power, and a beautiful interpreter torn between two ways of life and two ways of love.

Shōgun is a 1975 historical fiction novel by James Clavell, set during the late Sengoku period in Japan. It serves as the first novel in the internal chronology of the author's Asian Saga. A notable best-seller, by 1990 the book had sold 15 million copies worldwide.

About the author

James Clavell, the son of a Royal Navy family, was educated in Portsmouth before, as a young artillery officer, he was captured by the Japanese at the Fall of Singapore. It was on this experience that his bestselling novel KING RAT was based. He maintained this oriental interest in his other great works: TAI-PAN, SHOGUN, NOBLE HOUSE and GAI JIN.

Clavell lived for many years in Vancouver and Los Angeles, before settling in Switzerland, where he died in 1994.

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Shōgun (2024)

The new Shōgun, whose two-episode premiere comes to FX and Hulu, is not a remake so much as a radical reimagining. Adapted directly from Clavell’s novel, this sprawling, 10-part historical drama takes a far broader view than its predecessor. The series will have a total of 10 episodes, releasing a new chapter every week following the premiere. The release of its first two episodes is on Tuesday, February 27th 2024.

Shōgun is a historical drama based on James Clavell's novel, focusing on English sailor John Blackthorne's experiences in Japan and the power struggle among various leaders. Pilot John Blackthorne, also known as Anjin-san, is the protagonist of James Clavell's 1975 novel Shōgun.

The novel is inspired by the real-life story of William Adams, an English sailor who travelled to Japan in the 1600s played a crucial role in Japan's overseas trading, and rose to high rank in the service of the shōgun. The series follows fictional Englishman John Blackthorne's (Cosmo Jarvis) transforming experiences and political intrigues in feudal Japan in the early 17th century. Shōgun assigns details to characters that match their historical counterparts and has influenced other works, such as video games and films.

Hiroyuki Sanada headlines Shōgun as Lord Yoshii Toranaga. The Japanese actor and world-renowned martial artist is most known for his roles in films such as John Wick: Chapter 4, Bullet Train, Mortal Kombat, 47 Ronin, Army of the Dead and The Last Samurai . Shōgun isn't his first foray into television either, having appeared in Season 3 of The Last Ship, Seasons 2 and 4 of Westworld, and Season 6 of Lost.

With Shōgun, for the first time after more than three decades of work in his nearly 60 years of acting, the icon Hiroyuki Sanada took on the project of a lifetime. He received his first-ever producer credit on the show, painstakingly poring over every detail of the production’s lavish, nuanced portrait of feudal Japan. And he found himself giving a performance unlike any he’d given before.

To this end, actor Hiroyuki Sanada was brought on board not only to play the lead role of wise, strategic Lord Yoshii Toranaga, but also as an executive producer. Sanada, a major star in his native Japan, has enormous experience in period dramas there.

The main cast of Shōgun also features Cosmo Jarvis, British actor playing the lead in the series, which was shot over 11 months in Vancouver. Jarvis featured in Ridley Scott’s sci-fi series Raised By Wolves, as well as Peaky Blinders, where he was the tragic, shell-shocked Barney, part of the plot to assassinate Oswald Mosley.

Cosmo Jarvis, as John Blackthorne, his bestial and brooding, vibe couldn’t be any more different from Richard Chamberlain’s slickness. When John Blackthorne’s beleaguered ship drifts into a Japanese harbour where his ailing crew are taken hostage, he finds himself first used as a pawn in the local power struggles, before being appointed a samurai complete with his own army.

Anna Sawai (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) as Toda Mariko, Tadanobu Asano (Thor) as Kashigi Yabushige, Hiroto Kanai as Kashigi Omi, Takehiro Hira (Gran Turismo) as Ishido Kazunari, Shinnosuke Abe (13 Assassins) as Toda Buntaro. Moeka Hoshi as Usami Fuji, Tokuma Nishioka as Toda "Iron Fist" Hiromatsu, Yasunari Takeshima (Silence) as Muraji, Yuki Kura as Yoshii Nagakado, Fumi Nikaido as Ochiba No Kata, Tommy Bastow (EastEnders) as Father Martin Alvito, Yuka Kouri as Kiku, Yoriko Dōguchi as Kiri No Kata, and Ako (30 Rock) as Daiyoin / Lady Iyo.

Shōgun is Epic! Strap yourself in for a wild adventure in feudal Japan. This lavish adaptation of the classic samurai novel is a beautiful, intellectual fare that amply rewards your full attention. But be warned: it’s gruesome from the get-go. Highly recommended if you enjoy top tier drama 🎭

“Shōgun” is created for television by Rachel Kondo & Justin Marks, with Marks serving as Showrunner and Executive Producer alongside Michaela Clavell, Edward L. McDonnell, Michael De Luca, and Kondo. The series is produced by FX Productions. “SHŌGUN” PREMIERES EXCLUSIVELY ON DISNEY+ IN THE UK AND IRELAND TODAY 27th FEBRUARY 2024.

#Shōgun #general #JamesClavell #book #pilot #RichardChamberlain #JohnBlackthorne #Ishido #Toranaga #LordYoshiiToranaga #Japan #series #feudalsystem #HiroyukiSanada #CosmoJarvis #AnnaSawa #TadanobuAsano #HirotoKanai #TakehiroHira#ShinnosukeAbe #FX #Hulu #Disney+ #RichardChamberlain #ToshirôMifune

#Youtube

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legend-collection · 9 months

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Hestia

In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Hestia is the virgin goddess of the hearth and the home. In myth, she is the firstborn child of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, and one of the Twelve Olympians.

Pic by Christian Baitg on Getty Images

According to ancient Greek tradition, Hestia, along with four of her five siblings, was devoured by her own father Cronus as an infant due to his fear of being overthrown by one of his offspring, and was only freed when her youngest brother Zeus forced their father to disgorge the children he had eaten. Cronus and the rest of the Titans were cast down, and Hestia then became one of the Olympian gods, the new rulers of the cosmos, alongside her brothers and sisters. After the establishment of the new order and in spite of her status, Hestia withdraws from prominence in mythology, with few and sparse appearances in tales. Like Athena and Artemis, Hestia elected to never marry and remain an eternal virgin goddess instead, forever tending to the hearth of Olympus.

Despite her limited mythology, Hestia remained a very important goddess in ancient Greek society. Greek custom required that as the goddess of sacrificial fire, Hestia should receive the first offering at every sacrifice in the household. In the public domain, the hearth of the prytaneum functioned as her official sanctuary. Whenever a new colony was established, a flame from Hestia's public hearth in the mother city would be carried to the new settlement. The goddess Vesta is her Roman equivalent.

Hestia's name means "hearth, fireplace, altar". This stems from the PIE root *wes, "burn" (ultimately from *h₂wes- "dwell, pass the night, stay"). It thus refers to the oikos: domestic life, home, household, house, or family. Burkert states that an "early form of the temple is the hearth house; the early temples at Dreros and Prinias on Crete are of this type as indeed is the temple of Apollo at Delphi which always had its inner hestia". The Mycenaean great hall (megaron), like Homer's hall of Odysseus at Ithaca, had a central hearth. Likewise, the hearth of the later Greek prytaneum was the community and government's ritual and secular focus. Hestia's naming thus makes her a personification of the hearth and its fire, a symbol of society and family, also denoting authority and kingship.

Hestia is a goddess of the first Olympian generation. She is the eldest daughter of the Titans Rhea and Cronus, and sister to Demeter, Hades, Hera, Poseidon, and Zeus. Immediately after their birth, Cronus swallowed all his children (Hestia was the first who was swallowed) except the last and youngest, Zeus, who was saved by Rhea. Instead, Zeus forced Cronus to disgorge his siblings and led them into a war against their father and the other Titans. As "first to be devoured . . . and the last to be yielded up again", Hestia is thus both the eldest and youngest daughter; this mythic inversion is found in the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite (700 BC).

Zeus assigned Hestia a duty to feed and maintain the fires of the Olympian hearth with the fatty, combustible portions of animal sacrifices to the gods. Wherever food was cooked, or an offering was burnt, she thus had her share of honor; also, in all the temples of the gods, she has a share of honor. "Among all mortals, she was chief of the goddesses".

The gods Poseidon and Apollo (her brother and nephew respectively) both fell in love with Hestia and vied for her hand in marriage. But Hestia would have neither of them, and went to Zeus instead, and swore a great oath, that she would remain a virgin for all time and never marry. In the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite, Aphrodite is described as having "no power" over Hestia.

At Athens, "in Plato's time," notes Kenneth Dorter "there was a discrepancy in the list of the twelve chief gods, as to whether Hestia or Dionysus was included with the other eleven. The altar to them at the agora, for example, included Hestia, but the east frieze of the Parthenon had Dionysus instead." However, the hearth was immovable, and "there is no story of Hestia's "ever having been removed from her fixed abode". Burkert remarks that "Since the hearth is immovable Hestia is unable to take part even in the procession of the gods, let alone the other antics of the Olympians".

Traditionally, Hestia is absent from ancient depictions of the Gigantomachy as she is the one who must keep the home fires burning when the other gods are away. Nevertheless, her possible participation in the fight against the Giants is evidenced from an inscription on the northern frieze of the Siphnian Treasury in Delphi; Brinkmann suggests that the letter tracings of one of the two goddesses right next to Hephaestus be restored as "Hestia", although other possible candidates include Demeter and Persephone, or two of the three Fates.

Her mythographic status as firstborn of Rhea and Cronus seems to justify the tradition in which a small offering is made to Hestia before any sacrifice ("Hestia comes first"), though this was not universal among the Greeks. In Odyssey 14, the loyal swineherd Eumaeus begins the feast for his master Odysseus by plucking tufts from a boar's head and throwing them into the fire with a prayer addressed to all the powers, then carved the meat into seven equal portions: "one he set aside, lifting up a prayer to the forest nymphs and Hermes, Maia's son."[20]

Hestia is identified with the hearth as a physical object, and the abstractions of community and domesticity, in contrast to the fire of the forge employed in blacksmithing and metalworking, the province of the god Hephaestus. Portrayals of her are rare and seldom secure.[21] In classical Greek art, she is occasionally depicted as a woman simply and modestly cloaked in a head veil. At times, she is shown with a staff in hand or by a large fire. She sits on a plain wooden throne with a white woolen cushion and, Robert Graves declares, "did not trouble to choose an emblem for herself". Her associated sacrificial animal was a domestic pig.

Her Roman equivalent is Vesta; Vesta has similar functions as a divine personification of Rome's "public", domestic, and colonial hearths, binding Romans together within a form of extended family. The similarity of names between Hestia and Vesta is, however, misleading: "The relationship hestia-histie-Vesta cannot be explained in terms of Indo-European linguistics; borrowings from a third language must also be involved," according to Walter Burkert. Herodotus equates Hestia with the high ranking Scythian deity Tabiti. Procopius equates her with the Zoroastrian holy fire (atar) of the Sasanians in Adhur Gushnasp. To Vesta is attributed one more story not found in Greek tradition by the Roman poet Ovid in his poem Fasti, where during a feast of the gods Vesta is nearly raped in her sleep by the god Priapus, and only avoids this fate when a donkey cries out, alerting Vesta and prompting the other gods to attack Priapus in defense of the goddess. This story is an almost word-for-word repeat of the myth of Priapus and Lotis, recounted earlier in the same book, with the difference that Lotis had to transform into a lotus tree to escape Priapus, making some scholars suggest the account where Vesta supplants Lotis only exists in order to create some cult drama.

#hestia #greece #mediterranean

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a-typical · 1 year

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Not everyone who successfully impacts the hearts and minds of one generation will carry that currency of influence into the generations that follow. But the continued success of Cosmos, Carl Sagan’s magnum opus, argues strongly for Carl’s affability and intelligence. But it also reveals a hidden hunger in us all to learn about our place in the universe and embrace why it matters intellectually, culturally, and emotionally.

These properties distinguish the work of Carl Sagan and his collaborators from all other efforts to communicate science. Most good books in the genre teach you what to know in the author’s field of expertise—what’s hot, what’s interesting—in clear and simple language. But rarely is that information shaped into knowledge. And even more rarely is that knowledge shaped into wonder; the foundation of a cosmos perspective on the world. Dare I assert that Cosmos wielded this power in ways that profoundly influenced how we would observe, interpret, and conduct our lives.

One of the least noted facts about Cosmos, but perhaps the most significant of its gifts to human culture, is how it repeatedly cross-pollinated the traditional sciences—astronomy, biology, chemistry, and geology. When taken separately, these fields are each noble and time-honored. But when taken together—when Cosmos wove them into a tapestry of insight on our place in the universe—their juxtaposition became potent and indelible. Cosmos was early, if not first in this endeavor. In the decades that followed its publication, we would see the rise of hybrid fields of study such as astrobiology, astro-particle physics, astro-chemistry, planetary geology—some still donning their hyphens.

But the publication and best-selling success of Cosmos accomplished much more than this. The book’s treatment of scientific topics was persistently blended with other traditional fields of study, such as history, anthropology, art, and philosophy. Revealing for the first time how and why readers should embrace all the ways that science matters in our culture.

At the time, there was nothing fresher, more uplifting, or more empowering than the themes and messages of Cosmos. Perhaps for the first time in any medium, the person teaching you science—Carl Sagan—cared about the tangled mental roadways that can rob a person of rational thought. His motif was to speak with you, not lecture at you. With that level of pedagogical comfort, millions of people around the world invited his television image into their living rooms and his printed words into their reading chairs.

When Cosmos first arrived in 1980, the arms race of the Cold War was fading, but nonetheless continued to hold hostage the world’s nations with a nuclear arsenal of destructive powers derived from the minds of physicists. But exploration was not without hope. NASA had already landed Viking on Mars, seven years after we walked on Moon. And the twin Voyager space probes continued their flyby-tour of the Jovian planets, on their way out of the Solar System altogether. All headline news. But much more was to come. The Space Shuttle had not yet flown. The International Space Station existed only on paper. The Hubble Space Telescope was eleven years from launch. The first exoplanets—worlds orbiting suns other than our own—were fifteen years from detection. The World Wide Web was still a decade away from becoming a household utility, democratizing access to cosmic discovery. And dozens more space missions would launch and arrive at their respective destinations.

In a field that moves as rapidly as astrophysics, one would think it impossible to write a timeless tract on it. But within Cosmos you’re never focused on the bleeding edge of science. That comes and goes. You’re instead treated to what the epic adventure of scientific inquiry means to Earth, to our species—to you. And that recipe works at any time, in any place, for any generation.

By Neil deGrasse Tyson

From Cosmos by Carl Sagan.

December 2013

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splatoon-ninjago-chan-fan · 1 year

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Barisol’s Child Is An Only Child (Gacha Life And Club And Wonderend Version)

(Lemo And Yuni Version)

Barisol’s Child Is An Only Child V1

“Lemo And Yuni” Version”

Yuni’s POV

“Barisol’s Second daughter is an only child.”

“An heir to a wealthy household, and a beautiful girl everyone envies.”

“But there was a problem with her.”

“She loves to play with dolls, and she only wears girl clothes!”

“She steals implements from her mother’s room and secretly puts on makeup!”

“Everyone around her kept their distance from her as such!”

“So she was always....”

“All alone....”

Lemo’s POV

“Barisol’s First daughter is an only child”

“A once-in-a-millennium child prodigy”

“Entering college at age six, she studies about the heart of man”

““Unending crimes and wars; why do people hate each other so?””

“So that she could understand that even a little, she continued with her research.”

“And so she realized the cause of the unending ‘Malice’”

“She knew, ‘That’s not in this world’”

Yuni’s POV

“Barisol’s Second daughter is an only child”

“She too finally took up a sweetheart, a Crossdressing maid her age who came to work for her”

“He was adorable like a doll”

““I’d like you to let me wear your clothes,””

“One day She requested of him”

“While becoming terribly flustered”

““That’s disgusting” was his only reply” “

Lemo’s POV

“Barisol’s First daughter is an only child”

“She too was beginning to be violated by ‘Malice’”

“Having unending murder impulses without knowing why, she consulted with a colleague”

“A researcher of parallel worlds”

“The man made this reply to her:”

““If you can erase your ‘other self’, then perhaps your ‘malice’ can be erased as well””

Yuni’s POV

“From outside the door was an angry voice”

“In a corner of the room, she was growing afraid”

“The dolls scattered inside the room, their limbs were warm and in pieces”

“There was another world in the mirror that her eyes had been able to see”

“A woman who resembled herself extended a hand”

Lemo’s POV

“When the world was consumed by “Malice”, an ark flew into the cosmos”

“With a crew of 72 people, inside of that it’s said there were also twins”

“Just before she would kill ‘herself’, she realized the truth”

“That this was a clever trap that man had devised”

“When I do this myself, that really would be the gateway to ‘Malice’”

“With me fallen, she likely intended to ride on the ark in my place”

Lemo And Yuni’s POV

“Barisol’s child is an only child”

“But nowadays they're two children”

“The older sister knowing the heart of man and the younger sister knowing the body of man”

“The ark advances along a black sea, aiming for a new paradise”

“Their research might create a new mankind someday”

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edaross · 2 years

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I've been playing with an AI text generator: https://chat.openai.com/chat

Here are a couple of examples:

Input:

"Write a story about Darth Vader shopping in Costco"

Output:

"Darth Vader stood at the entrance of the Costco warehouse, gazing at the sea of people bustling about. He was not used to being surrounded by so many beings, and he felt a sense of unease and discomfort.

He had been sent to Costco by his master, Emperor Palpatine, to purchase supplies for the Death Star. The Emperor had given him a list of items to buy, and he had tasked him with finding the best deals and lowest prices.

Darth Vader made his way through the aisles, pushing his cart and scanning the shelves. He was amazed by the vast selection of goods and the sheer quantity of each item. He had never seen so much food, clothing, electronics, and household items in one place.

As he shopped, he noticed that the other shoppers were giving him strange looks. Some of them were afraid of him, and others were curious about his appearance. He could sense their fear and confusion, and he knew that he was an imposing figure in his black armor and helmet.

Despite the stares and whispers, Darth Vader continued his shopping. He searched for the items on the Emperor's list, and he found many of them at low prices. He was impressed by the quality of the goods, and he was pleased to be able to save money for the Empire.

As he neared the checkout lanes, Darth Vader encountered a long line of shoppers waiting to pay for their purchases. He sighed and joined the line, feeling frustrated and annoyed. He was not used to waiting, and he was not patient by nature.

Finally, it was his turn to pay. He placed his items on the conveyor belt, and the cashier scanned them one by one. She looked at him nervously, and she seemed afraid to speak to him.

Darth Vader handed her his payment card, and she processed the transaction. She gave him his receipts and his bags, and she thanked him for shopping at Costco.

Darth Vader left the store, feeling satisfied with his shopping experience. He had accomplished his mission, and he had saved money for the Empire. He was glad that he had been able to do his part to support the war effort, and he looked forward to returning to the Death Star."

Input:

"Write a story in Lovecraft style: Father Ted destroys the universe"

Output:

"The universe was vast and unknowable, filled with mysteries and horrors that defied the understanding of mortal beings. It was a realm of chaos and darkness, ruled by ancient gods and monstrous beings.

Father Ted was a humble priest, living on a small island in the middle of nowhere. He was a simple man, with no ambitions or desires beyond serving his flock and spreading the word of God.

But one day, Father Ted discovered a forbidden tome hidden in the depths of the island's library. It was a book of ancient knowledge, written in a language that he could not understand.

Curious and reckless, Father Ted began to read the book. As he did, he felt a strange and powerful force flowing through him. He realized that he had stumbled upon a secret that had been hidden from the world for eons.

With each passing page, Father Ted's mind expanded and his consciousness grew. He began to see the universe in a new and terrifying light. He saw the ancient gods and monsters that ruled over the cosmos, and he saw the darkness and madness that lay at the heart of all things.

And then, in a moment of madness and hubris, Father Ted reached out with his newfound power and destroyed the universe. He unmade the stars and the planets, the galaxies and the dimensions. He erased all existence, leaving only a void of emptiness and chaos.

In the end, there was nothing left but Father Ted, alone and lost in the void. He realized the terrible mistake that he had made, and he wept for the universe that he had destroyed. But it was too late, and there was no turning back.

The universe was gone, and Father Ted was all that remained. He was the last vestige of creation, and he was doomed to wander the void for eternity, consumed by regret and sorrow."

I've got a few more in a thread on my Mastodon account:

#Story #ChatGPT #Star Wars #Father Ted

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my-commonplace · 1 year

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For people in the first century the world was a cosmos, a sacred order; and it was filled with other beings, some of whom were people, while others were gods. And you owed them. Piety paid its debts.

C.R. Wiley, The Household and the War for the Cosmos

#ROMANS 13:8!!!!!#c.r. wiley #the household and the war for the cosmos

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thepitofjob · 2 months

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Job 9: 8-13. "The Garbage."

Who is God and what does He do all day long? Job "a Prince in a Manhole" wonders the same thing. Mentioned below are a few peculiar constructs named nowhere else in the Torah: the Bear, woof, Orion, and the Pleiades, and says they are placed in what is called Rahab, the cosmos. This indicates the path of the Fourth Day, when the stars come out, sentience, the coveted day after yesterday mankind cannot seem to attain to all at once.

What we are becoming, but have not yet become is found in Lekh Lekha. Recall God says we are to have stars in our skies and they are to resemble the Jews of the past. All stars however begin as animals and must follow the course if they want to be numbered among the stars in heaven. But only if we can stop fornicating and refrain from violence and injustice, which we can't:

The Lord’s Covenant With Abram

15 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield,[g] your very great reward.[h]” 2 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit[i] my estate is Eliezer “God is my help” of Damascus?” [the turning point] 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” 4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring[j] be.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. 7 He also said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans [Fire of Understanding, as in “I understand you” ] to give you this land to take possession of it.” 8 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” 9 So the Lord said to him, bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.”

=back to the Third Day, which can last as long as a year in Torah time. By the Third Day a boy must enter the Shule, he must be pubescent, he must be intelligent, he must have some sublime tendencies, and he must be trainable, able to find his way on his own like a homing pigeon.

Space in the Torah is defined in three dimensions so the final goal by Year Four, is a flying pigeon boy, and this, Job explains below:

8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. 9 He is the Maker of the Bear[a] and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. 10 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. 11 When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him. 12 If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ 13 God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet

The Values in Gematria are:

v. 8: He treads the waves of the sea. First one must be able to contend with one's own thought patterns without coming unhinged. Now I have said everyone must put on a uniform and establish parameters and a permiter around Israel and the religion. War dehumanizes us if we are the victims. It has the opposite effect if one is righteous and of God.

The endgame of war has to resemble the onset: the desire to establish a kingdom without strife. War is ugly and destructive, but so long as people think a few readings in an old book justify attacks on the people of Israel, war is holy, it will purify the planet, it will make it whole once again.

The people of Israel cannot bob up and down to the wrong rhythm during this campaign, we have been waiting for thousands of years to stain the soil red with the blood of our enemies. Now we know most of mankind has felt the same way. We must press this historic advantage and win.

The Number is 4411: דדאא‎ ‎, dada, understanding of understanding."

The people that attacked Israel have been attacking free thought all around the world for centuries. They have forsaken the use of the faculties for muckity muck that has resulted in the mass murder of innocents while the rest of mankind watched.

Our only choice is to give mankind what it wants, a bloodbath, a flood caused by very high turbulent waves off the surface of a sea of blood. This is in effect what it asked for the day those American white boys covered in spray tan ran from Gaza into Israel.

We have learned that food is data, and data is food, but blood is a lesson.

9. He is the Maker of the Bear[a] and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. The Southern Sky is the sky of intelligence. In the East we are taught how to compute, but in the South we learn how things connect to the words and numbers we have learned in the classroom to real life. In the South, one learns how to answer life's questions from a moral perspective, i.e. what is right or wrong. In the West, we add what is ethical or proper.

Of all the constellations in the sky, the poet chose the Bear, Orion, and the Pleides to illustrate his point:

A bear is what it sounds like a boy in a man's body. The Number is 88, חח‎‎, "Time to swivel."

Orion is "the pillar of study." The Number is 229, "perception in a glance." A hunk that is not perceptive is about as fun as a cheese blintz. Pass.

Pleidades are "wonder of wonders." They are the province of the god of war, and his seven sisters, who are goddesses of war.

They symbolize the syllabus within the Fourth Day.

The Pleiades, also known as the "Seven Sisters", are a star cluster that features seven prominent stars with their own names: Alcyone, Asterope, Celaeno, Electra, Maia, Merope, and Taygete.

"Stroop, and glean evil with us. Fly like a kite from the illustration of nothing. Without being tagged, a cell in the hive you are nothing, just a fornicator."

The Number is 194, "the thorn bush."

The Value in Gematria is 2583, בה‎‎חג, at the holiday. The goal is a pig boy I mean a pigeon boy. The holiday one seeks by understanding the progression between the Third and Fourth Year is the instinct to home. A fancy fornicator is not going to be able to home.

Homing is tied to all that happened in Noach after which God legislated protection of the homestead within the Beersheba. Man needs rules in order to be happy. A good number pertain to how to be grown, studly, and sexually active. But first the moral rules have to be followed as they protect the existence of the home.

The Mormons and their assmeat puppets the Republicans do not live moral or ethical lifestyles, respect courts of law, or the land. They attempted to protect their ability to fornicate by starting a war in Israel claiming some ridiculous myth story gave them the right.

We must respond by referring to the Torah which gives humanity a proper, legal, moral and ethical way to interact that contains God's Authority, but lacks any resemblance to a myth. Myths do not belong in courts of law or the public sphere, which is why God gave us the Beersheba, the Seven Oaths:

What Are the Beersheba, the Seven Noahide Laws?

The 7 Noahide Laws are rules that all of us must keep, regardless of who we are or from where we come. Without these seven things, it would be impossible for humanity to live together in harmony.

Do not profane G‑d’s Oneness in any way. Acknowledge that there is a single G‑d who cares about what we are doing and desires that we take care of His world.

Do not curse your Creator. No matter how angry you may be, do not take it out verbally against your Creator.

Do not murder. The value of human life cannot be measured. To destroy a single human life is to destroy the entire world—because, for that person, the world has ceased to exist. It follows that by sustaining a single human life, you are sustaining an entire universe.

Do not eat a limb of a still-living animal. Respect the life of all G‑d’s creatures. As intelligent beings, we have a duty not to cause undue pain to other creatures.

Do not steal. Whatever benefits you receive in this world, make sure that none of them are at the unfair expense of someone else.

Harness and channel the human libido. The family unit is the foundation of human society. Sexuality is the fountain of life and so nothing is more holy than the sexual act. So, too, when abused, nothing can be more debasing and destructive to the human being.

Establish courts of law and ensure justice in our world. With every small act of justice, we are restoring harmony to our world, synchronizing it with a supernal order. That is why we must keep the laws established by our government for the country’s stability and harmony.

These laws were communicated by G‑d to Adam and Noah, ancestors of all human beings. That is what makes these rules universal, for all times, places and people:

Laws made by humans may change according to circumstance. But laws made by the Creator of all souls over all of time remain the same for all people at all times.

v. 10: He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed miracles that cannot be counted. This is nice and poetic but what does it mean? The Number is 3327, גגב‎‎ז, gabbaz, garbage. ‎

Nothing in the Torah or Tanakh were written to praise God using flowery fluffy language. None of it can be taken for granted. It should have occurred long ago praising God in this manner on a debased planet is silly.

v. 11-12: He cannot be perceived if he passes by. Yes, He can if one learns how to stroop. The Number is 10965, "lean, weave, spin."

There two or more ways to do everything in the Torah. Noach for instance means "to sublimate, to rest" it can also mean "to agitate, to drag down."

The ability to recognize which shade of color that is present in one's mind is essential to sentience. The Book of Job so far pertains to fornication and adultery, the kind that embattles young persons, who cannot reason their way into appropriate responses to their urges. Its premise includes the fact this can be self managed without one's parents or dirty locker room friends, that they can be resolved within the self.

I believe the Rab is saying so long as this does not cause hurt, then one's sex can be freely expressed.

v. 13: God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet. God does not have to control His anger, but we must. We cannot always resort to a feudal system with wars for territory and glory, we are smart, we've learned a lot over the ages and in some parts of the world know how to do a good job maintaining civilization.

How and why did we allow the King of England and his Mormon friends take advantage of the human race an offend its God in such a manner, invoking such great rage from quarter to quarter? How did we miss the signs we were about to start over just as we did after World War II and that completing our journey once again is going to be impossible if we don't learn our lessons?

The Number is 3808, גחאֶפֶסח‎, gephasach, "you're stupid."

So from boar to war, here we go again. A bunch of maniacs who can't read are waging a genocide against Jews, Muslims, black people and gays and not one schmuck in the US Department of Justice gave two shits on a shingle about it and hundreds of thousands of people are dead, hundreds of millions are homeless, all of us are mildly annoyed over these things and no one has stated how or when we are going to get started on the 300 year plan for the relief of impoverished conditions on this world.

The reason we can't do this is because of what is called an anti-Therion, a complex day in which all that can be done to make man malfunction and make him fall is being done all at once.

I agree with the Book of Job, this is a garbage planet populated by stupid people who just want to play with their wieners all day.

Love your war, hope you win.

#chabad #chabad.org

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catsloverblog · 3 months

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"Purr-fection in Naming: 100 Irresistible Male Cat Names That Will Make Your Feline Famous"

Choosing the perfect name for your new feline friend can be a daunting task. Fear not, cat lovers! We've compiled a list of 100 unique and charming male cat names that will make your furry companion stand out from the crowd. From mythological heroes to pop culture icons, there's something here for every cat's personality.

Loki - The mischievous Norse god, perfect for a playful troublemaker

Orion - A celestial name inspired by the hunter constellation

Gatsby - For the sophisticated and charming gentleman cat

Merlin - A magical name for a wise and mysterious feline

Atlas - Inspired by the Titan who held up the sky, ideal for a strong cat

Ziggy - A nod to David Bowie's alter ego, great for a quirky cat

Finn - Meaning "fair" in Irish, suitable for a light-colored cat

Apollo - The Greek god of music and poetry, for an artistic soul

Jasper - A gemstone name meaning "treasurer," perfect for a precious pet

Milo - Derived from Latin, meaning "soldier," for a brave kitty

Oscar

Felix

Leo

Charlie

Max

Simba

Gizmo

Thor

Louie

Oliver

Cosmo - A spacey name for an out-of-this-world cat

Banjo - For the musical feline in your life

Whiskey - A smooth name for a golden-colored cat

Zorro - Meaning "fox" in Spanish, ideal for a clever and swift cat

Rufus - Latin for "red-haired," perfect for an orange tabby

Archie

Bruno

Caspian

Dexter

Edison

Figaro - Inspired by the cat in Pinocchio, great for a tuxedo cat

Gandalf - For a wise and majestic long-haired cat

Hugo - Meaning "mind" or "intellect," suitable for a smart feline

Iggy - Short for Ignatius, meaning "fiery" in Latin

Jinx - A playful name for a cat who seems to bring mischief

Koda

Loki

Mowgli

Nemo

Onyx

Perseus - A heroic name from Greek mythology

Quentin

Remy

Socks

Tigger

Ulysses - For a cat with an adventurous spirit

Vader - A powerful name for a black cat, inspired by Star Wars

Winston

Xander

Yoda

Zeus - King of the Greek gods, for a cat who rules the household

Aladdin

Benji

Clyde

Django

Elton - Inspired by the flamboyant musician, for a cat with personality

Fitz

Gulliver

Houdini

Iker

Jagger - For a cat with rock star attitude

Kobe

Lancelot

Mick

Neo

Ozzy - Inspired by the Prince of Darkness, for a mysterious black cat

Pixel

Quincy

Rascal

Sherlock

Toulouse - Inspired by the artistic cat from The Aristocats

Umberto

Vincent

Waldo

Xavier

Yuki - Japanese for "snow," perfect for a white cat

Zephyr

Ace

Bowie

Cheshire

Draco - Latin for "dragon," for a fierce and protective cat

Echo

Frankie

Garfield

Hemingway

Icarus

Jett

Kuro - Japanese for "black," ideal for a black cat

Lennon

Maverick

Ninja

Odin

Pepper

Quasi

Ringo

Sputnik - For a cat that's out of this world

Tango

Udon

Vulcan

Zeppelin

When choosing a name for your male cat, consider his personality, appearance, and your own interests. A name like "Thor" might be perfect for a large, majestic Maine Coon, while "Pixel" could suit a small, energetic Siamese.

Remember that cats respond best to names with one or two syllables, so you might want to use a shortened version of longer names in everyday life. For example, "Perseus" could become "Percy" for daily use.

Some names have interesting origins or meanings that can add depth to your choice. "Jasper," for instance, is not only a gemstone but also the name of one of the Three Wise Men in Christian tradition. "Finn" has roots in Irish mythology, where Finn MacCool was a legendary hero.

Ultimately, the best name for your cat is one that you enjoy saying and that seems to fit your feline friend's unique personality. Happy naming!

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omegaphilosophia · 10 months

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Exploring the Pantheon: A Journey Through the Various Levels of Godhood

Introduction:

Since time immemorial, human cultures have woven intricate tales of gods and goddesses, each possessing unique powers and roles within the cosmic order. From omnipotent deities to lesser divine beings, the pantheons of various mythologies offer a captivating tapestry of godhood. In this blog post, we embark on a journey through the various levels of godhood, exploring the diverse realms of divine power, influence, and mythology.

The Supreme Deities: Omnipotence and Creation

At the pinnacle of divine hierarchies, we find the supreme deities—the creators and rulers of the cosmos. These gods and goddesses are often characterized by omnipotence, omniscience, and the ability to shape the very fabric of reality. Examples include Brahma in Hinduism, the Christian Trinity, and Zeus in Greek mythology. They govern fundamental aspects of existence, from the creation of worlds to the establishment of cosmic order.

Greater Deities: Guardians of Realms and Forces

Beneath the supreme deities, we encounter a tier of greater deities who preside over specific domains or forces of nature. These gods and goddesses are formidable in their own right, holding sway over realms such as the sea, the underworld, or war. In Norse mythology, Odin, the All-Father, rules over Asgard, while Poseidon commands the seas in Greek mythology. These greater deities often serve as both protectors and arbiters of their respective domains.

Intermediate Deities: Mediators and Messengers

Intermediate deities occupy a crucial role as messengers, mediators, and emissaries between the divine and mortal realms. Often associated with specific aspects of human life or natural phenomena, these gods and goddesses bridge the gap between the cosmic and earthly realms. Hermes in Greek mythology and Mercury in Roman mythology serve as messengers, facilitating communication between gods and mortals.

Lesser Deities: Guardians and Minor Powers

In the pantheon, lesser deities assume roles as guardians, protectors, and overseers of specific aspects of existence. These gods and goddesses may embody natural features, animals, or abstract concepts. For instance, in Egyptian mythology, Anubis guards the afterlife, while in Hinduism, Ganesha is revered as the remover of obstacles. Though less prominent than their higher-ranking counterparts, these deities play essential roles in the tapestry of divine influence.

Local and Household Deities: Personal Connections

At the most personal level of godhood, we encounter local and household deities. These beings often find their place in specific regions, communities, or even individual households. They represent the intimate connection between the divine and the everyday lives of people. Examples include the Roman household gods, the Lares, and the kami of Shinto traditions in Japan.

Conclusion:

The various levels of godhood across mythologies offer a rich panorama of divine beings, each contributing to the intricate narratives of creation, existence, and human experience. From the omnipotent supreme deities to the intimately connected local gods, the diverse roles and powers of these divine entities reflect the complexity and depth of human imagination and spiritual exploration. As we traverse the realms of myth and legend, we find a shared human fascination with the divine, expressed in the myriad forms of godhood throughout cultures and across time.

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divinewill · 1 year

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Capítulo Dieciséis: Joyride

Will Trueman here.

Within a day of that metahuman terrorist attack in Japan, in the year of Our Lord 2075, the internet discovered the manifesto of the villain.

In no time, users translated it into various languages: English, Korean, Chinese, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and many others.

That killer’s manifesto, “CONTRADICTION IS TRUTH” (矛盾こそ真理), exploited the same dialectic that destroys the ability of men to use their rational faculties. The logic of unreason which fueled the era of horrors with Naziism, Fascism, and Marxist-Leninism in the 20th Century.

Intentionally disguising its nature as a heretical scripture to an esoteric religion through the postmodern manipulation of language and pretentious verbosity. Among the contemporary dialecticians, it spread like a Californian forest fire.

Only time would tell if it would take, but my father reading through this work’s pseudo-scientific, scriptural structure and seemed inclined to think that it would reinvigorate esoteric wizards.

Assuming most metahuman communities could resist propaganda, uniformity among them remained was a vain and inhuman hope. Much like the assumption of an underlying universal ethic among the nations of the world and their cultures.

All it would take is for a powerful minority to indulge in the lie to cause unfathomable damage and change the world. Believing the first lie told by the serpent in the garden, even after our special fall.

That we can become God by re-entering the garden of Eden, under our own power, and taking a second bite out of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

This was but a footnote within the news, which seemed utterly flooded with new discoveries unveiled from the first appearance of the GSSDO as well.

The most shocking of which was the discovery that not only did alien civilizations exist, but that these aliens were metahumans themselves. Albeit, the nature of their superpowers seemed different from those of Earth.

This raised several questions. Firstly, whether these are our brothers and sisters born from the same Adam and Eve, but displaced by some panspermic power across the cosmos?

Or if these cosmic siblings were the sons and daughters of another Adam and Eve as in the story of Starcrossed and Interleft? The enormity of this formless chaos bubbling to the surface deeply troubled me.

I didn’t even know where to begin with the Yōma problem that my foolish peers were so adamant about waging war against.

This self-imposed global lockdown gave me time to think about how I might appear as my alter ego in the day, if required. After the Cold Civil War of the 2010s-2030s, security cameras and dashcams were commonplace among most American households, even in high trust neighborhoods. This led me to contemplate strategies to get around cameras, to protect my identity.

A black dress might work to conceal me during the night, but it certainly wouldn’t help during the day. That day, I realized I when I manifested my alter ego; we were never in direct contact. Nor when I called her back to me. Introducing the idea that this ability might have a nonlocal nature to it.

On the first night of testing, I discovered I could manifest my alter ego on the opposite side of a barrier, such as a wall, ceiling, or floor. I even learned how to mute the glow of her summoning. So that summoning her would not draw attention to me if I conjured her outside.

On the second night, I could manifest her within the basement or on the opposite side of the opaque wooden fence while I was in the attic. On the third night, I could manifest my alter ego in the air, above a neighbor’s house on the opposite side of the street.

I meticulously noted every facet of my alter ego’s summoning with my eidetic memory. Allowing me to rapidly extend the ranges at which I could call upon her and return to one body.

The thought of letting anyone else die because of my ineptitude was unacceptable. I needed to cultivate both my powers and character so that I could transform the nature of this traumatic encounter with death on an unimaginable scale.

To transmute this trauma into a motivation for metamorphosis, as opposed to a catalyst for victimization and self-pity. Like the heroes of the Golden and Silver ages of superhero comics, the Cimmerian champions of sword and sorcery literature, and the saints and heroes of history.

At noon, I called my best friend, Rory Rider, to check up on her and make sure she was doing well. During this time, my father listened to the independent news outlets which engaged in empirical journalism, playing in the background, as he worked on creating various assets for his business; fully expecting the world to return to normalcy after the world adjusted to its new situation.

I talked to Rory about several things when I heard the live coverage of a police chase.

Turning on the TV, we witnessed something the police weren’t equipped for. I noticed that all the police cars that pursued them seemed to veer wildly and uncontrollably into disaster. As if someone had stolen control of the wheel and crashed them into each other, other vehicles, and or barriers.

The lead police vehicle violently change velocity, both speeding up and turning as if the wheel had been rapidly jerked as far left as possible. It struck and disabled another police cruiser. To my shock, all the cruisers violently careened into parked cars, poles, and each other.

Later in this chase, a motorcycle seemed to act outside the control of its driver. The engine revved, and the machine popped a wheelie as it went berserk—almost like a horse bucking its rider. Throwing the poor man off his own ride.

The ghost ridden machine raced to overtake a new police cruiser, crashing into it by popping a wheelie and stopping. This caused it to slam into the cruiser, flip onto the hood, smash the windshield and flip over the vehicle.

It was almost as if one of these two criminals could manipulate the controls of motor vehicles. Which, if true, would make it impossible for a police pursuit on the road. Therefore, since the police pursuit of these thieving vandals was impossible, the job of stopping their rampage lay on someone like me.

They seemed to be a pair of petty teenage car thieves in ski masks, emboldened by the collision of the mundane with the supermundane. Their reckless driving and power-tripping risked untold property damage and fatalities.

The foolhardy young man on the passenger’s side peaked his head, torso, and hips out of the car window and howled with adrenaline as he sat on the door. Risking his own safety for a cheap thrill in this careening vehicle.

While continuing my conversation, I made my way to the alleyway fence. Then I summoned my alter ego in my room. She then used her super-senses to make sure the coast was clear, then tapped on the closed curtain of my window to signal this discovery to myself.

So, I recalled her, then immediately summoned her back into our world, further away than ever before. This time two hundred meters away and fifty meters in the air. Something I chalked up to the adrenaline coursing through my veins and the urgency of the situation.

This, being the first time that I had ever manifested in the daytime, I noticed that my Gothic Lolita attire was now pure white. While I loved the dress, I had more important things to do.

I controlled my descent to safely land on the sidewalk, then took off at subsonic speeds towards the broadcast’s last location. Contrary to what I expected, it wasn’t the distant sounds of helicopters and criminal chaos that guided me. Rather, there was something more subtle I could feel: a psychical sense guiding me beyond the powers of hearing or sight.

It was a presentiment that allowed me to more accurately anticipate where I needed to be. A novel power I discovered on the fly when I realized I could predict how the distant sounds would change.

It wasn’t long before I made it to the scene, where I found the hoodlums had entered a parking garage. Before they made their way into the parking garage, I scanned the car with my penetrating vision and got a look at their faces.

Tracking them through the garage, I saw something incredulous. The car carrying the criminals would never come out, as they transmuted it, while driving, into a 2045 Ferrari. The act of transformation made a distinctive cacophony indicative of warping metal, glass, and rubber.

These two criminals then removed their masks and calmly left, expecting to get away as if they were merely pedestrians.

After their departure, I jumped down to the vacant sidewalk and I took off. At 248 mph, I quickly caught up to my target and decelerated to match their speed.

I used my penetrating vision to eavesdrop on them: peering through their skin, muscle, bones, and vehicular obstructions to see every small but meaningful articulation and intuitively reconstructing their conversation. I could see the synaptic discharges within their bodies, granting a complete 3D visualization of their brain activity and activation potentials within their peripheral nervous systems.

While I could not use this information to possess a perfect knowledge of future action or even intentions, it granted me forewarning about what they could potentially choose to do.

I reached equilibrium with the driver's side of the car and knocked on the window and signaled for the driver to roll down their window. While they did not deign to stop the vehicle, the driver complied with my request to roll down the window.

I heard the passenger comment to the driver, “Hey, isn’t that the woman from the news? The one who was helping with rescue efforts in Japan?”

I confirmed, “Yes. Now I ask that you pull over now.”

The driver asked incredulously, “What?”

I explained to them, “I know you’re the perps the police were chasing earlier, so consider this a citizen’s arrest.”

The driver tried to pretend as if he didn’t know what I meant as he turned to his passenger and said, “Is she serious?”

I asked the driver, “When did you crack your skull?”

They both seemed to be surprised by this statement.

I told them, “I can see through opaque matter. Which is how I could see your faces through your masks before you entered the parking garage, and how I know your passenger placed the masks underneath his seat. It’s also how I can see the long healed over linear skull fracture on your parietal bone.”

This statement clearly horrified the driver, who didn’t know what to do.

The cocky passenger snidely remarked, “What, you’re a vigilante and a doctor?”

I sarcastically remarked, “A photographic memory goes a long way when you have friends in academic disciplines… Now tell me, which one of you can control cars?”

The passenger freaked out at that accusation and caused the vehicle ahead of me to come to a full stop.

I simply jumped over the car, landing in front of it. The hijacked car then sped up to intercept me, but I dodged the vehicle and jumped high in the air. While I did not know how to fly; I found I had more control over the trajectory of my descent than expected.

I landed in front of the car with my targets, ready to stop them as I did those criminals the day before the G² Impact. The driver swerved to avoid me, and I immediately intercepted them.

Calling upon that tactile power again, I intercepted the vehicle with my gloved hands without damaging it or injuring the passengers as I ground my shoes into the pavement. The friction brought us close enough to a halt that I could I effortlessly lift the vehicle above my head as I came to a stop.

That initial accusation was a bluff. I did not then know whether it was a specific or general telekinetic power that the passenger possessed, but now I was sure that they could only control vehicles. If they had power over flesh and blood, he would have tried to influence me. Instead, they had only shown some power over motor vehicles.

The occupants howled in abject terror as I leaped 700 m (2,296 ft) straight into the air.

At the peak of the ascent, I briefly let go of the vehicle to tell them in American Sign Language, “Be not afraid.”

I grabbed hold of the vehicle and dampened the inertia of the car and everything within with my tactile telekinetic power. We landed in an adjacent park. I displaced all the kinetic energy through my body and into the ground, which ruptured underneath my feet. Because of this, both the passengers and the vehicles were unblemished. Sans them having passed out from the sheer terror of the fall.

The last thing I wanted to do was damage a stolen car or physically hurt two teenagers. Not that the vehicle, if stolen, could be returned to the original owner because of its comprehensive transformation. Though I thought it might be possible that the license plate remained unmodified. So, I opened the car door and confiscated the keys, which I then placed right side up.

I flagged down the news and police copters that saw this all transpire and once again employed my knowledge of American Sign Language to say, “These two are the perps. The driver can change the appearances of cars and the passenger can remotely control motor vehicles. Their masks are under the passenger’s seat.”

I showed the news chopper the keys, then placed the keys on the branch of a nearby tree. The police, guided by the copter, arrived, then I fled the scene, again.

It was much harder to disappear in the day, so I patrolled the city until nightfall, when I could more effectively return home unseen.

As horrible as it was to fish corpses out of burning, irradiated, and carcinogenic rubble, I learned a lot about how my powers through on-the-fly observation. Lessons that would help me in my self-chosen responsibilities as both a superhero and a magical girl.

To ensure that, no matter where I was in the world; no one else would suffer a loss of life or limb due to me failing to use my abilities to their maximum efficiency.

* * *

The world was still under a self-imposed lockdown, so I passed the time with my father after he finished his work. To keep his company running, he had to ramp up his own production. Normally, he only streamed one week a month, and those streams usually only lasted for two or three hours. This week he streamed for ten hours every day since the G² Impact and still found time enough to spend with me.

Most of his talents took him up on his offer to take a break from streaming to spend time with their families. Although, many of them soon returned to their kayfabes after seeing him put so much effort into his job.

As a manager, he advised them to reduce their time streaming and helped them efficiently manage their time so that they could spend more time with their families. Many of them only streamed for an hour or two every few days during this period. Something which helped their fans to de-stress during this terrifying period. A decision rooted in my father’s business philosophy.

I played games with my father often. Some days we played board games, some days card games, and on other days, we would play one of the myriad video games he obtained for his business. However, I assumed he would probably be tired of video games at the end of his stream, so I searched through our collection of board games.

I made my way to the board game shelf and looked to find something to play. We were both very skilled chess players, and my father’s international business dealings meant that he inevitably learned how to play a variety of classical board games.

My father had sets for international standard chess, caturaṅga, Gliński’s hexagonal chess, janggi, makruk, shōgi, sittuyin, Tamerlane chess, and xiàngqí. We owned other strategy games such as Abalone, Backgammon, Battleship, Blokus, Checkers, Chess Unbound, Connect 4, Da Vinci’s Challenge, Go, Gobblet, Hnefatafl, Hive, Leaves, LYNGK, Martian Chess, Nine Men’s Morris, Otrio, Pünct, Quarto, Reversi, Skud Pai Sho, Sternhalma, Tak, YINSH.

We also had Azul, Monopoly, Risk, Royal Game of Ur, Sagrada, Uno, etc.

I made my decision and had several hours left before my father was done with work, so I trained in our in-house gym, and do vigorous cardio for 90 minutes.

Listening to a conversation between a Thomist and a Palamist discussing the essence-energy distinction on a philosophy podcast, I performed my scheduled routine. 100 explosive pushups, 15 mixed grip pull ups, 100 pulse squats, 100 sit-ups, and a 10 km on a treadmill, in addition to other exercises. Ensuring not to neglect the lower back.

After that, I went and read some of my dad’s books, this time reading Stephen King.

At 15:00 hours I prayed the chaplet of Divine Mercy, for the people I encountered in Japan.

When my father finished, at around 17:00 hours, I let him wind down for about thirty minutes before I asked him, I asked him, “So how’s your scalp?”

He admitted, “Cold, but I’ll get used to it.”

I then asked him, “Would you like to play a game of Risk?”

My father was better than me at this game, but I was no novice myself.

He lit up and accepted my challenge, and we started our game. Unlike most people, we read and memorized the rule book, which meant that the game was more streamlined.

During the gameplay, I asked him, “Could you tell me more about the Trueman family?”

He thought about it for a moment, then asked, “Have I ever told you the story of how we got our name?”

I lit up and told him, “No, you haven’t.”

He smiled and explained, “Well, as with you and me, the story of the Trueman family begins with an adoption. An Anglo-American in the territory of Tejas, adopted a Spaniard boy who was the sole survivor of his village, which was massacred by the Comanche. Back then, the Mexican government did little to nothing about its outer territories being raided by the Comanche and Apache.”

He explained, “It was actually the Americans who settled in Tejas who brought with them infrastructural development and security to the Spaniard and Native American settlers.”

I asked him, “I believe you told me about this part. About how the Mexican government intentionally let the foreigners build the infrastructure so that they wouldn’t have to do it themselves?”

My dad smiled. “And how their sloth cost them the territory of Tejas? They effectively abandoned their responsibilities to their subjects… and both necessarily and rightly lost their legitimacy over it.”

My father explained, “There was a time when people forgot that the defenders of the Alamo included not only James Bowie, William B. Travis, and Davy Crockett, but also José María Esparza and Carlos Espalier. José María Esparza was among the few who were granted a proper burial at the Alamo, thanks to his brother who served in the Mexican army. His brother petitioned the leadership for this privilege, and out of respect, they granted his request. However, most of the deceased were cremated.”

I asked him, “Do we have any ancestors who died at the Alamo?”

He told me, “Yes. They were cremated.”

I asked him, “Is that why, despite our adoptive family being almost entirely Hispanic, we have an English surname?”

He answered, “Yes. This is also why adoption is such an important tradition among the Trueman lineages. It’s the cultural root explaining why I was adopted, and why your father asked me to take care of you if the unthinkable happened.”

I remarked, “That you told me about.”

He confessed, “I’m sorry that you didn’t get to meet them.”

I confessed, “I’m not… As curious as I am about them, I’m happy that you’re my dad, and I wouldn’t change that for the world. Besides, death isn’t the end, so I’ll still get to meet them one day.”

My father smiled, “Ever the optimist, aren’t you?”

We spent about 120 minutes playing the game before I lost. After which remembered something.

“I forgot, I have something for you, from your tatarabuelo.”

He handed me a DVD of an old cartoon and explained, “He started watching this when he was 14. It’s still one of his favorites, but considering his health, he thought you might enjoy it.”

It was a complete series of Ed, Edd n Eddy. A show I had never heard of, but my great-great-grandfather had good taste in media, so I gladly accepted this gift.

I asked my father, “When can we visit him again?”

My father confessed, “I don’t know. He said he wants you to stay here because it’s safer.”

I understood we might not see him for a while, given he was in too poor a condition to come to us.

He explicitly told my father not to let me come visit him, but my father immediately proposed a compromise: “But we could do a video call with him tomorrow. Maybe he’ll agree to a watch along and you can enjoy his gift together.”

I accepted this offer without reservation.

Because of the difficulties of sneaking around during the day, my alter ego could not return until late at night, when everyone was expected to be asleep. When my alter ego arrived home, I could recall all that had happened to myself that stayed home.

* * *

During the wait, as day turned to twilight, I heard something which was neither human nor beast, but which more resembled the organic analogue of a chiptune cry of pain.

I made my way into the woods, following the sound of metal hitting flesh and bone accompanied by these eldritch cries, where I encountered a strange sight.

The beaten, almost albino creature had two white circular eyes with whirling black circles of fur. On its cheeks were eye-like patterns: blood-red irises, a blue lacrimal caruncle, and the rest of the image was as black as pitch.

At the end of its almost rat-like tail was an octahedral club with a long spine at its end and four claw-like protrusions for each of the other rounded points. Its fur was like that of a polar bear, sans the vibrant black stripes that decorated its limbs, body, and tail.

A young man, maybe 14 years old, with a bloodied aluminum baseball bat, wound up for another strike when I approached him from behind and grabbed the bat. Halting the wind up in its place.

Despite its apparently featureless eyes, I could tell from the movement of its ears and its chiptune-esque cries that this creature, like many mammals do, was asking for help in its own creaturely way.

I ordered the kid, “Step away from the creature!”

The cocky brat demanded, “Who the hell are you?”

The clear disparity in our sizes compelled him to step away from me and towards the creature, which stood on all fours and postured as if to defend it.

I told the kid, “I don’t know what that thing is… but considering its natural armaments, the fact you and your clothes remain unblemished, and that it immediately stepped up to defend you, I think it’s safe to assume that your assault of this animal was not in self-defense.”

The beastie’s lagomorph-like ears perked up and in my direction.

I told the boy, “You can’t just go around abusing creatures for your own amusement. What habits does such behavior cultivate?”

The beastie began sniffing the air in my direction and seemed to look me in the eye when I glanced down at it. At that point, all aggression left it and it stood upright on its hind legs like a prairie dog.

This seemed to annoy the boy who kicked at the creature, but I intervened and simply placed my leg between his kick and the beastie before he made contact. Both the boy and the beastie immediately recoiled in surprise at the speed of my intervention.

The beastie lowered its head and approached me like a cat, placing a light, scent-marking headbutt on my legs. A behavior that seemed to send the boy into a rage.

“What the fuck are you doing Akhbar (עַכְבָּר)?” The kid screamed.

The beastie seemed to speak. An act that seemed to horrify its owner. It spoke only one word, which it repeated with aggression, “Choose!”

It stepped in front of me as if to face its abuser.

At which point, another creature, with six emaciated, clawed, humanoid arms, an upright, bipedal frame, a mousy tail, and a hummingbird like beak, cloaked in a tailor-made black robe, made its presence known. Gently descending from the sky, its icy blue, lidless eyes were wide and blinked with a nictitating membrane.

It spoke with an inhuman tongue, and Akhbar seemed to relent.

This new creature’s appearance unsettled me, but utterly froze the kid in terror.

The beaked thing promised, “I am not for you, metahuman, nor am I hear for the tamer. I am merely here for the creature.”

I readied for a fight before asking, “What do you plan to do with it?”

The beaked thing promised, “I simply want to help it heal.”

Akhbar moved away from me and towards the beaked thing, which tapped the little monster on the head.

The beaked thing said, “The bond which abuses, I sever for the mutual good of the abused and their abuser.”

The kid immediately fell to his knees, as if suffering the sudden onset of the most painful migraine I have ever seen.

I darted to the boy with superhuman speed and used my penetrating vision to see the unnatural storm of neurological activity coursing through his brain.

The beaked thing assured me, “Do not fret. He will be fine in a few minutes, though he will need to sleep.”

I made by way to the beaked thing and, grabbing it by its cloak, demanded, “What did you do to him?”

The beaked thing gestured with its hands as if to signify pacifism.

It said, “The child will be fine. His pain should subside in anywhere from a minute to an hour. This poor creature was about to sever their psychic bond, which would have killed the child. I simply stepped in to ensure that the severing of their bond was as safe as possible.”

I asked the beaked thing, “What in God’s name are you, creature?”

The creature answered me, “I am what your metahuman academics call a nouiform. Like the other creature before you, I am a creature that bonds with humans.”

I asked it, “For what purpose?”

The creature obliged me, “It is simply our nature to bond with rational souls.”

That phrase, “rational souls“, stood out to me as Scholastic language.

I commanded the creature, “We will go to the hospital, and so help me if anything happens to this child…”

The manner in which I said it clearly showed I was using an inclusive use of the word “we”.

The creature willingly submitted. Placing its upper right hand in the air as if to give an oath.

It said to me, “I will take responsibility for anything happening to the child. Though, luckily for me, the bond shared between him and the little one was not strong, and should last only thirty seconds.”

I turned back to the child and saw that, as promised, the neurological storm in his head ceased and he returned to normal cognitive function, though very exhausted and angry.

The small creature reared its back like a cat, bearing large bone crushing teeth, and readying its tail like a scorpion. But before I had to defend the boy, the beaked thing spoke inhumanly, which the little thing seemed to understand, and stepped between them.

Then the beastie disappeared with supersonic speed into the woods.

He wobbled to his feet and screamed, “You fucking bastard! I can’t feel my connection with Akhbar!”

The beaked thing told him, “To save your life, I severed the bonds between you.”

The boy threw a tantrum, claiming, “You had no right to do this! He was mine!”

The beaked thing offered to explain more about what he and Akhbar were, and I took him up on his offer. So, we left the sensory range of the aggressive adolescent, though I monitored him with my superhuman perception and ensured that he eventually made his way back to the city.

I asked it, “Do you have a name?”

The beaked thing answered, “My name, is Kauākṣara.”

I inquired, “How many more like you are there?”

Kauākṣara confessed, “I cannot know. Much like your metahumans, tamers have mostly existed in secret. Though, given what I heard about the goings on in Japan now, this GSSDO has been aware of our existence for some time.”

I presented some information for its assessment. “On the news was a birdlike creature carrying a pygmy man, which seemed to have the power to manipulate the debris. Is this one of you nouiforms?”

Kauākṣara assessed, “That would be my assumption, but I have never met this specific entity. I have been roaming the American continent since the 1400s.”

I asked it, “Where are you from, exactly?”

Kauākṣara made a noise that I assumed to be roughly equivalent to a chuckle, then said, “Someplace that no longer exists. Comes with the territory of being thousands of years old.”

I interrogated, “What does this bond between nouiform and the tamer entail?”

Kauākṣara explained, “It depends. Often it entails a psychic connection, allowing passive telepathic communication between the two.”

I finally asked, “Are you familiar with yōma?”

Kauākṣara confessed, “Not by this term. Could you describe it to me?”

I described it to the best of my abilities with what limited information I had available, and Kauākṣara seemed to recognize something.

Kauākṣara suggested, “I will investigate this matter, but I do have an idea what these might be, and I do not suspect nouiformes. If I might ask, where did you get this information from?”

I explained, “This information came from a diviner.”

Kauākṣara thought for a moment, the something beyond my perceptions caught its attention.

It promised me, “I will report anything I find back to you, but for now I must go.”

I asked, “How exactly do you plan on finding me?”

Kauākṣara answered, “Let’s just say I don’t think it will be very hard to find you. Goodbye, madam.”

Just before departing, he stopped, then warned me, “Be cautious around us, madam. We are extremely powerful, and while some of us mean no harm, and even love humans, there are some among us who are incredibly Machiavellian, sadistic, and even anthropophagic.”

I asked one last question, “What kind are you?”

Kauākṣara left me with, “The kind who finds joy in others’ joy.”

Kauākṣara departed from me, and I did not chase it. The fact it kept its word regarding the wellbeing of the child was enough for me to trust but verify.

Now that it was the dead of night, I made my way back towards home unseen and remotely called myself back to my alter ego, still at a distance.

I experienced the sudden recombination and organization of experiences into one coherent narrative of memories, and I was happy that no one got hurt today.

My recombination occurred when my younger self was about to head to bed, so I said my nighttime prayers, then went to sleep.

Right as I was about to doze off into dreamland, my phone got a notification, and I checked on it.

I received a text which read, “So, you’re a fan of Lolita fashion as well?”

My heart almost stopped, and the next text came by, “Your secret is safe with me, but can we talk tomorrow?”

#superhero #magical girl #dark fantasy #hopepunk #original story #original character #noblebright #webnovel

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